Hockey fans are the most superstitious people I have
ever met, even more so than baseball nuts or gamblers.

When I worked for the Houston Aeros as an intern
during the 2002-03 season, I was strongly urged to grow out my playoff
beard to show my support for the team.

And grow it I did. For the two month playoff run,
my beard was untouched. It grew to lengths that would have made Grizzly
Adams proud.

I can say that with confidence because my beard stopped
Dave Barr, then team president and general manager, in his tracks so he
could compliment it.

Barr knows a few things about playoff beards --
he was a 16-year veteran of the National Hockey League.

The Aeros enter the 2005-06 Calder Cup Playoffs with
50 regular season wins -- their highest win total since their 2002-03
Calder Cup championship season and second highest total since their 1998-99
Turner Cup championship season.

For good measure, the Aeros dusted off their old
World War II-inspired bomber logo to use on a new alternate jersey the
team will wear through the playoffs.

The last year this logo was used predominantly was
during the teams Calder Cup-winning season.

For those of you who want to buy a vowel, know this:
The Aeros will be the 2005-06 Calder Cup Champions.

Everything that could possibly align has aligned.
I would be scared if this was an end-of-days event, but it isn't. It is
the start of the greatest two months of the year: hockey playoffs.

The Aeros begin their best-of-seven games West Division
semifinal series against the Peoria Rivermen on Friday at the Toyota Center.

On Wednesday, the Aeros will complete their sweep
of the Rivermen in Peoria, Ill.

The Aeros have 281 regular season goals, which makes
for second in the Western Conference and first in the West Division. Peoria
was fourth in the West Division with 244 goals.

Defensively, the Rivermen have only allowed 220 goals
to the Aeros' 236. However, the goals scored to goals allowed ratio clearly
favors the Aeros.

And there are the mascots. What would you rather
have a riverboat for rivermen to drive, or would you rather have a bomber
to drop incendiary devices on the boat driven by rivermen? Duh.

The Aeros bandwagon takes off on Friday, so it is
time to stop shaving. I'm sure there will be great tickets available on
game day.

Remember, the Aeros are 16 wins away from another
Calder Cup championship. Don't miss out on your chance to be apart of Houston
hockey history.